Out of the Black - Lee Doty [133]
While they worked, they asked him questions, but Ping didn't hear. Amid bright lights and the crisp smell of fall, he sat in darkness that no coma therapy could breach. He turned the sword over in his hands. Spattered blood covered the end and spread with the motion to cover his fingers and hands. He didn't know to who or what, but he was praying for mercy, for undeserved providence.
***
Rae's tears were defocused here. Head in her hands. Solitude.
"So, you'll marry me, right?" Her dead man across the table said around a mouthful of cheeseburger.
"That's not funny." She moaned into her hands.
"Whew. I'm glad to hear that," he said reaching for his drink, "I was a bit worried you might laugh."
She cried harder, sobs crashing around her as the weight of her loneliness became clearer with the ghost's words.
Then his arms were around her, holding her tight. Sweet lies filled the air, "It's gonna be all right. Let it all out, you're not gonna need it."
She was lying on Roy's couch with Alex wrapped around her. Outside the window, the storm gathered as night and death approached. Lightning came and went but the thunder seemed to roll on and on. Time passed, or didn't. She lay curled on a dead man's couch with another dead man wrapped around her. He'd been talking, but she really hadn't been paying attention.
"...not a ghost you know... really." Alex finished.
"All ghosts say that." She said weakly.
"No way. Look at A Christmas Carol, each ghost was pretty frank about his nature... except possibly for the silent, pointy one. Anyway, I'm sure you cthink of plenty of other examples."
"Look. All the jokes in the world won't make me hope this ain't a dream. Just a second ago we were in our booth at Nell's and now we're on Roy's couch."
He chuckled. "You're beautiful when you're deductive. But I didn't say this wasn't a dream... I just said I wasn't a ghost."
"Lawyer."
"You're also beautiful when you're cynical... just so spunky. See? You're the perfect woman. I really wasn't kidding about gettin' hitched."
She was too weary for anything but easy conversation, so more sobs were out. "Ok then lover... wait! There's a snag... you're dead and I'm either unconscious or dead from a broken heart."
"Broken heart? Now that's just sweet." He patted her hand from across the table. "So, if I can work these little problems out... the wedding's on?" He said from across the food-littered table of their favorite booth. "Remember? This is where I proposed to you the first time."
"You are such a geek... always wanting to get married in any world but the one we're currently in... I still think you're gay."
"But I am in denial."
"Still gay."
"Then maybe you're a man trapped in a woman's body? I sure am sweet on you, sugar."
"Flattery will get you nowhere, Zombikens."
"Listen, Scoobylicious, technically you're not here from a broken heart... I kinda knocked you out before you could start kicking the Detective's butt... you'd regret that later, by the way. Plus I haven't been able to talk to you much more than the odd word wedged around 'seek medical attention' for two days now- I thought we could spend some quality time together."
She looked up and into his eyes for the first time and instantly the world changed. She knew. She screamed and surged across the table into his arms.
***
Working together, the doctor and floor nurse had gotten the major blood vessels sealed after two minutes of struggle using only the doctor's portable kit. The trauma nurse arrived shortly thereafter with more comprehensive equipment. Now she and the doctor were working to stabilize the patient for transport to the OR.
No longer needed, the